How Halo: Reach Perfected Video Game Audio

Popular Mechanics keeps it classy.

Erik Sofge once again got some face time with some Bungie personnel. This time, he launched an all out audio assault featuring the one, the only, Marty O'Donnell. Hit the jump below to get your read on.

Avault Podcast Episode #98

Derek Carroll drops the details.

The fine folks over at the Adrenaline Vault just deployed a brand new, Reach-themed podcast for your listening pleasure. Derek Carroll dropped by to deliver the straight dope about the game's multiplayer. Strap your headphones on and click the link to listen.

Fire Team Zulu: Challenge-amanjaro!

The community is glassing your controller with all these new challenges!

Can't get access to an early copy of Halo: Reach? Hit the jump below to keep your mind occupied while you wait.

"As we head closer to Halo: Reach's launch, we're dropping a boatload of community created challenges on you faster than a MAC cannon! Halo 3 Challenges include Shock Troopers on Normal and Heroic for Crow's Nest, and Angry Anti Air on Normal and Heroic for The Storm. For your ODST fix, there is Purge on Heroic and a sadistically hard Firefight challenge with a really long name on Crater Night. That last one will earn you a new FTZ site achievement."

Halo: Reach Intel Updated

Ordnance deployed.

Five new enemies have been identified and eleven new weapon and vehicle drops are now available in the Halo: Reach Project Page. Look for plenty of additional content as we approach launch on 09.14.2010.

Halo: Reach Game Audio Profile

Chuck Presents

SPOILER ALERT: This article reveals a few details from the plot of Season 3 of the TV series Chuck. You have been warned!

The creators of the popular NBC spy action comedy Chuck have created a webseries about the efforts of two of the show's quirkier characters to get their hands on Halo: Reach. The webseries, titled Chuck Presents – Buy Hard: The Jeff and Lester Story, focuses on Jeff Barnes (played by Scott Krinsky) and Lester Patel (played by Vik Sahay), former employees at the Burbank Buy More electronics store, where the title character of "Chuck" has worked for several years when not being a spy. Jeff and Lester have been on the run from the law for several months because they were believed to have caused the store's destruction in a fire at the end of the Chuck Season 3 finale (they didn't do it).

As avid gamers, however, Jeff and Lester are willing to risk being caught in order to get a hold of a copy of Halo: Reach. Their efforts take them to Buy More's Encino store, and also leads to a run-in with Big Mike (played by Mark Christopher Lawrence), the manager of the Burbank Buy More who told the cops he believed Jeff and Lester blew up the store.

The Buy Hard webseries will consist of five two-minute webisodes, all of which will be able to be seen at TheWB.com. Episode 1 will run on September 7th, Episode 2 will run on September 8th, Episode 3 will run on September 9th, Episode 4 will run on September 10th, and the fifth and final episode will run on September 13th just in time for the midnight release of Halo: Reach on September 14th. All episodes of the webseries will also eventually be available on www.xbox.com as well as Xbox LIVE.
For more information about Chuck (watch out for spoilers), go to:

Xbox LIVE Launch Festivities

"First off you should prepare for a week long program of Halo downloads, LIVE competitions and special offers running 7-21 September. Among the exciting opportunities for all Halo fans is that Halo Legends will be 50% the usual price to Download to Own from 7-21 September. This stunning collection of seven animated movies gives the perfect background to the Halo universe as we prepare for Halo: Reach. You can own Halo Legends in Standard or High Definition. Buy it now from Xbox LIVE Marketplace and you can watch it later again and again. The party continues with the following dates for your diary:

Sign in to Xbox LIVE on these days to view the fresh new content including the awe inspiring full length edit of Deliver Hope this Saturday.

Next, after securing your place on Noble Team with a copy of the game, it's officially Halo: Reach "Invasion Week" on Xbox LIVE. Six days of online activities not to be missed by any Halo fan. Between 14-19 September you can look forward to...

A free Halo: Reach Invasion Theme for your Xbox 360 dashboard, just connect to Xbox LIVE and download it while you can!

Chance to play against Bungie themselves! The guys that made Halo: Reach will be playing against you, the fans, at set times during the week.

Rising Stars: Perception

"My quest in finding cool community based content is coming to an end. The map featured this week is 'Perception'. With the whole merging craze happening in Forge I decided to bring up a map which is simple in terms of structure layout however it provides incredibly solid gameplay with tense and fun matches.

Created by FC Elijah on his older gamertag (xKing Elijahx) the focus around perception is clearly on the intention of providing immense gameplay. I chose to bring up this as these gameplay focused maps often get overlooked by aesthetically based maps which will have you pulling your hair out.

I cannot recommend this map enough to those who regularly fire custom games with a bunch of buddies.

Whilst there are no rendered videos for this map there is a screenshot below. Go on, give it a shot to find out how this maps excels in the gameplay department."

'Day One' - Webcomic

Adam is back and colorful as always. The time discrepancy is on me. PAX caused some news delays.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! What are you doing even looking at this?!? Shouldn't you be sitting around contemplating the future of the entire gaming industry and how it is all about to change in less than two weeks?

Well, if you've been doing that and need a break- here's some halo comic stuff, from one fan to another.

Where's Mah Dooble EXP?!

Fix your -blam!-, Bungle!

So, yeah, This week's Double EXP Weekend is running a little behind. I blame Ninja 0n Fire. (He tells me that some fairly large updates are being deployed and as a result, we'll likely not see the Double EXP Weekend go live until tomorrow, or, *gulp* "later").

'Affliction' - A Halo 3 Montage

"This is a Halo 3 dualtage from Inflict and Technicality, edited by Fragment, entitled, 'Affliction.' The color correction does get out of hand sometimes, but there's a couple sick effects here and there, and the gameplay is pretty good, showcasing a variety of solid plays from several different gametypes. Enjoy!"

'Whatever' - A Halo 2 Vista Funtage

"This is a Halo 2 Vista funtage from Exus entitled, 'Whatever,' put together by himself. It features a very unique soundtrack alongside some clever editing. The video is very well synced, but the editing also does a very good job at injecting humor into the video via the music. The live moments are pretty funny, and the clips are as well. Simply put, this is a short but very entertaining video that shouldn't be taken seriously in any way, shape, or form. Enjoy!"

'One in a Million' - A Halo 3 Montage

"This is a Halo 3 montage from Titanium, edited by Bagel, entitled, 'One in a Million,' featuring the leftover clips from his final montage. For leftovers, the gameplay is pretty sweet, showcasing some nice quickscopes and sticks. The editing is pretty good too, focusing on syncing. Enjoy!"